Crime News

3PB Barristers have created a dedicated webpage on its website to act as a hub for the many articles, briefings and webinar and podcast recordings about lockdown laws and regulations as well as practical issues like court attendance, e-bundles, remote and hybrid hearings. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to create employment, contractual and other legal challenges which are in many ways unprecedented. The impact of the virus is being felt, and in response, 3PB have...

3PB criminal barristers awarded Certificates of Congratulations from the Chief Constable of Hampshire

10th August 2020

3PB criminal barristers Adam Feest QC and Berenice Mulvanny have both been awarded a "Certificate of Congratulations" from the Chief Constable of Hampshire for their “professionalism, dedication, empathy and attention to detail” in prosecuting a complicated and high-profile, historical sexual abuse case. Pictured here, after receiving their awards, are criminal barrister Berenice Mulvanny and Adam Feest QC, 3PB’s Head of Crime at the national chambers. To contact either barrister, please call their clerk Stuart Pringle...

Crime barrister Nicholas Cotter of 3PB appeared as junior counsel for the defence in the first criminal trial in the UK to successfully return to the courts since the Covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020. The fifty-eight day trial at the Old Bailey involved six young defendants who faced an allegation of murder with the stabbing of a male on the Edgware Road in West London. The case helped provide a working example on the...

3PB crime barrister Jane Rowley’s client, PC Timothy Brehmer, has entered a guilty plea to an offence of manslaughter at a hearing before Winchester Crown Court on 8th July 2020. The Court was informed that the plea to the manslaughter was not acceptable to the CPS, and the matter has been listed for a 2 week murder trial starting on 12th October 2020. The case has attracted coverage in the media including the BBC reporting...

3PB’s pupil barrister Mariya Peykova has reviewed the use of police tactics to disperse protestors and the fine line between protesting and anti social behaviour. Over the last few weeks, there have been large-scale protests across the UK prompted by Black Lives Matters which have attracted large scale support, alongside rising complaints of anti-social behaviour. The line between legitimate protesting and anti-social behaviour in law can be a fine one. In this article, Mariya reviews...

This last week has seen large-scale Black Lives Matters protests across the UK’s main cities. 3PB pupil barrister Mariya Peykova has reviewed the rights during this Covid-19 pandemic for citizens to participate in a protest, the police arrest and stop-and search powers, the scale of fines and penalties and what people should be doing if you are arrested and taken to a police station. Mariya’s article is available to read in full here. To contact Mariya...

Publishers Viking has scooped an “urgent clarion call” for the British farming industry by 3PB criminal and family barrister Sarah Langford in a three-way auction. “For a Love of the Land” will be published in spring 2022 and follows Sarah’s hugely successful debut book, and Sunday Times bestseller, “In Your Defence: Stories of Life and Law”. Sarah Langford was a barrister for 10 years, working in criminal and family law in London and around the...

3PB Barristers’ regulatory counsel David Richards, Head of the national chambers’ Public & Regulatory Law team and pupil barrister Dr Tagbo Ilozue have published a digest of recent criminal law developments and relevant case law since the UK went into lockdown. The new lockdown law guide from 3 Paper Buildings (3PB Barristers) covers Coronavirus Act 2020, Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020, Criminal Procedure (Amendment|) Rules 2020, Criminal Procedure (Amendment No.2) (Coronavirus) Rules...

In what is described as ‘’the worst public health crisis in a generation’’, Mariya Peykova, a pupil barrister at 3PB reviews the powers of public health officers, constables and immigration officers and how the newly imposed laws will affect the rights of any individual infected with Covid-19. Her review also finds that the duration of measures and the manner in which the relevant powers are exercised will need to be continuously scrutinized to ensure that...

Last month the Coronavirus Act 2020 (CA 2020) received Royal Assent and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions (England) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/350 (the ‘Regulations’) came into force. These give wide new enforcement and prosecution powers to the police and local authorities, on health protection grounds. 3PB's crime and regulatory barrister Jonathan Underhill reviews these powers and the restricting the movement of people. These actually replace earlier regulations designed to limit the use of, and then...

In the context of the lockdown set down in The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, 3PB criminal barrister Graham Gilbert reviews the concept of “reasonable excuses” and when it is acceptable to leave your house, including what might be deemed sensible beyond those circumstances provided by regulation 6(2) of the Coronavirus Regulations. Click here to read Graham's analysis. Graham Gilbert is a barrister in 3PB’s criminal and public regulatory teams. Click here to...

Thomas Acworth was instructed by the Chief Constable of Surrey Police to resist H’s appeal against the revocation of his shotgun certificate. H, the former head of HR at one of the world’s largest financial institutions, instructed a notable QC (a former circuit leader) to represent him.  The appeal focused on concerns about H’s mental health following the demise of a relationship.  H relied on a psychiatric reports in support of his position. Following Thomas’...